Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Day 178 Low Carb Daily Menu

Day 178 of my Low Carb Life - My Low Carb Menu for Today

- Pork stir-fry on top of cauliflower rice with butter
- Pumpkin bake with whipped cream
- Cabbage and sausage soup with the carrots omitted and extra celery
- Burger with diced onions, cheese, tomato, mayo, mustard and low carb ketchup on an oopsie roll

This soup is a keeper! Very simple to make. I had zero carb Bratwurst on hand, so I just used those and it was a very easy one pot dish to make. I think it tastes like Italian wedding soup and my mom says that it satisfied her craving for French onion soup. I did use some frozen homemade chicken broth, which I think makes all the difference in the world with homemade soups.

Day 177 on the Low Carb Train

Day 177: Low Car

- Shepherd's pie with a little low carb ketchup
- Two hot dogs with low carb ketchup, mustard and diced onions on an oopsie roll
- Pumpkin bake with whipped cream
- Two burgers on oopsie rolls with hot pepper jack cheese, diced onions, tomato, mustard, mayo and low carb ketchup

Monday, November 23, 2009

Day 176 My Low Carb Menu

Day 176 Low Carb Daily Menu

- Pork chop off the grill
- Two hot dogs with onions, mustard, low carb ketchup on oopsie rolls
- Pumpkin bake with whipped cream
- Pork stir fry over cauliflower rice

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Low Carb Menu: Day 175

Day 175

- Low carb shepherd's pie with a little low carb ketchup
- Pumpkin bake
- Low carb chocolate ice cream with unsweetened coconut and some DaVinci's Dulce de Leche sugar free syrup
- Josie's spaghetti squash casserole with mushrooms & red peppers
- Burger in an oopsie roll with Swiss cheese, tomato, onion, mustard, mayo and low carb ketchup

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Day 174 Now I remember why I don't eat white bread!

Day 174

- Shepherd's pie with a little low carb ketchup
- Too much white bread with butter, side salad with ranch dressing, two chicken strips, three fried mushrooms, two cheese sticks, onion rings and half a slice of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting

Too much information alert!!!!!

Gross. That is how I feel. I felt sick last night after eating this crap and I felt even sicker all morning long on the toilet. First, it was like extreme cramping, then constipation then more horror. My body is sooooo not used to this crap and I'm proud of that, really.

Sorry to my stomach and intestines... Don't worry, I won't be making *that* mistake again, anytime soon!!!! I really had no idea that when I decided to have a deviation from low-carb that it would be this horrendous on my body.

Forget the scale - I just don't want to feel like shit!!!

Off to the store to get eggs, heavy cream, etc... You know, the stuff my body can actually recognize as food! Not partially digested crap they stuff you full of at a restaurant. Well, if you choose to eat it... as I did. Lesson learned.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Day 173 Low Carb Menu

Day 173 - Low Carb for Me!!!

- Low carb shepherd's pie
- Pumpkin bake with whipped cream
- Two burgers on oopsies with all the fixin's
- Josie's spaghetti squash monterey with mushrooms and red peppers
- More shepherd's pie

This shepherd's pie is amazing! I used two cans of green beans instead of frozen. With the help of my stick blender for the faux-tatoes, it was actually quite an easy dish to whip up. Quite tasty, too!!!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Day 172 Low Carb Pumpkin Pie for the Holidays

Day 172 Low Carb Daily Menu

- Albacore tuna salad sandwich with diced onions and a few slices of fresh red pepper on an oopsie gluten-free bun
- Low carb pumpkin bake with home made whipped cream
- Two hot dogs with diced onions, cheese, low carb ketchup & mustard on an oopsie bun
- Two slices low carb supreme pizza on oopsie pizza crust

This pumpkin bake is a winner! It seriously tastes exactly like pumpkin pie to me. If you are looking for a good pumpkin pie recipe for Thanksgiving, I would definitely give this one a try. It's very low carb, especially if you use a zero carb liquid sweetener. I did add a whole cup of "sugar," even though it only calls for half a cup.

This Thanksgiving, I'm going to really use it to count my blessings... I have so much to be thankful for and I'm going to spend this time of year to focus on how lucky of a girl I really am.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Low Carb Daily Menu: Oopsies are a part of my daily living!

My Low Carb Lifestyle: Day 171

- Albacore tuna salad with diced onions and a slice of Roma tomato on an oopsie roll with swiss cheese
- Two hot dogs stuffed with hot pepper jack cheese & diced onions, mustard and low carb ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Josie's spaghetti squash casserole with mushrooms and roasted red peppers
- A slice of supreme pizza on oopsie pizza crust
- French toast, made from oopsies with low carb pancake syrup and two pork sausage patties

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

My Day #170 Low Carb Menu

Day #170

- Low carb peanut butter fudge
- Two hot dogs with mustard, diced onions and low carb ketchup on an oopsie bun
- Pizza on oopsie pizza crust
- Josie's spaghetti squash with mushrooms & red peppers added
- Burger with tomato, diced onions, mustard, mayo and low carb ketchup on an oopsie bun

Monday, November 16, 2009

Day 169 Low Carb

Day 169 Low Carb Life

- Burger on an oopsie roll, deluxe
- Mixed veggies w/ a little cheese sauce
- Two hot dogs with diced onions, ketchup and mustard an on oopsie
- Spaghetti squash with Alfredo sauce and hot pepper jack cheese
- Low carb peanut butter fudge

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Day 168 - When romaine lettuce is so sweet....

Day 168

- Grilled pork chop with BBQ sauce
- Spaghetti squash with Alfredo sauce and hot pepper jack cheese
- Big, fat burger on an oopsie roll with all the fixings
- Mixed veggies with butter
- Three thin sweet potato fries - not low carb, but I couldn't resist
- Low carb peanut butter fudge

At the restaurant, my sister in law's sweet potato fries were looking unbelievably good! She was not going to finish them, so finally, before the waitress took away her plate, I asked her if I could try one. I remember when I tried them before (at the same restaurant), they were only okay, so I had no idea why I wanted one so bad.

When I finally gave in, they were so SWEET and delicious! Of course, sweet potato fries are going to be sweet, but these were really sweet. I think that going without sugar has made my sweet-palette much more sensitive to sweetness. Before, when I tried them (in my days of eating the Standard American Diet [read: high-carb]), they were almost sweet in an annoying kind of way... like they weren't really sweet, if that makes sense.

I think I mentioned before, I crunched into a stalk of a piece of romaine lettuce and it tasted unbelievably sweet! This is the former Miss Little Debbie addict, finally enjoying the natural sweetness of natural things!

Have any of you noticed things tasting ultra-sweet and really being able to detect that now that you are sugar-free??

Saturday, November 14, 2009

BBQing without Carbs - Grilled food just tastes better!

Day 167 Low Carb

- Ham
- Cabbage/zucchini/onion stir-fry
- BBQ Pork chop off the grill [I used Walden Farms Thick and Spicy BBQ Sauce]
- Two grilled hot dogs with onions, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie bun
- Low carb cheesecake
- Burger on an oopsie roll with mustard, diced onions, tomato, mayo and low carb ketchup on an oopsie roll

Friday, November 13, 2009

Too many low carb desserts!

Day 166 Low Carb

- Tuna salad with diced onions on an oopsie roll
- Low carb peanut butter fudge
- Low carb cheesecake
- Hamburger on an oopsie with onions, tomato, mayo, mustard and low carb ketchup
- Spaghetti squash with meat marinara sauce
- Low Carb Chocolate Sundae: Breyer's Carb Chocolate Smart ice cream with Walden Farms' Low Carb ~ Sugar Free Caramel Sauce and almonds

The problem with experimenting with low carb desserts is that somebody around the house has to eat them... and it's usually me that ends up putting in in my mouth... er - hips. My sweet tooth had a sweet tooth! I usually don't even like chocolate ice cream, but I have admit, I do not regret eating any of this.... It this was incredible!

For me, it's too dang easy to justify the extra dessert (or dessert at all) if it's low carb.

Now, I do like to have a low carb option around for desserts... but this is just ridiculous!

What is everybody doing for Thanksgiving? Originally, I was going to stick to Low Carb, but I decided that I'm going to have a scheduled deviation from my plan. I plan on going to my brother's house and I'm going to enjoy the meal... I'm going to allow myself to go off of it for damage control for the future, to be honest. Days, weeks, or even months down the road, I do not want to have the excuse that I was deprived of my big, fat Thanksgiving dinner, so I can eat this Large Movie Theatre (refillable) popcorn.

I don't think that going off plan is the problem... It's when you don't get back on track that is!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

My Low Carb Menu - Day 165

Day 165 of my Low Carb Life!!!

- Tuna salad with diced onions, tomato and swiss on an oopsie roll
- Low carb peanut butter fudge

(at restaurant)
- Side salad with cucumbers, purple onion, baby spinach and ranch dressing

- Thick slice of ham
- Pork tips with mushrooms & onions
- Broccoli with butter

- Cabbage / zucchini / onion stir-fry
- Big fat burger, deluxe, on an oopsie roll

The italics above was what I ordered at the restaurant. I ordered what was called the Whole Hog Platter and it was soooo good. For some reason, I did not like my pork chop... at all. I usually love them! What is up with that!? I really think it was raw.

Nancy wrote about eating low carb at a restaurant... Honestly, before I really became committed to low carb, I used to just think, "Hey, I'm eating out... I'm not sticking to that shit..." Now, I think.... "Hey, I'm worth this..." and I politely ask my waitress to leave off the croutons... Simple as that.

Tonight was so funny. I went out to dinner with my mom and my grandma, who is a feisty 80-something who loves her bread. There was this gigantic bread bowl of fresh-baked bread. We were eating out to celebrate my three month anniversary for quitting smoking cigarettes!!!
To get on with it, my mom and I (who are avoiding carbs at all costs) kept placing the bread basket away from us.

"I don't know why, but I've lost my appetite lately," Grandma started, loading her to-go container with the rest of the bread, half-heartedly.

"Well, you did eat all of your redskin potatoes, most of your meat and at least four or five pieces of bread," Mom reminded her.

"Well, this last piece of bread will have to stay here," Grandma was frustrated because she couldn't squeeze another piece in here bulging Styrofoam container.

"Now, who wants the rest of my wine?" She held up her glass high in the air, with about half a sip of White Zinfandel in the bottom.

Day 164 Low Carb Daily Menu

Day 164 Low Carb Menu

- Cabbage / zucchini / onion stir-fry
- Albacore tuna salad on an oopsie roll with diced onions
- Meat lover's oopsie pizza
- Low carb cheesecake
- Low carb peanut butter fudge
- Meat sauce served over spaghetti squash with Parmesan cheese

This fudge is amazing! Wow.... it's incredible.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Day 163: No bread for me.... I'll take an oopsie!

Day 163 Low Carb

- Burger with all the fixin's with swiss cheese on an oopsie roll
- Some pizza made on an oopsie pizza crust
- Cheesy bread made on oopsie pizza crust with ranch dressing
- Zucchini flax muffin
- Low carb cheesecake w/ a tablespoon of natural peanut butter on the side
- Spaghetti squash covered in meat-mushroom marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese

Going to get back on board with eating cleaner. More meat...... more eggs.... more veggies.... The scale will go DOWN!

In good news... I've been exercising! I have my dad's hyper dog who is used to running daily while he rides his bike with her. She has been dragging me along for walks down the road. She insists on at least two walks per day, which is great for me. She is one enthusiastic work out buddy! I'm telling you, she will not let me skip a day and we usually go about a mile per walk.

Day 162

Day 162 Low Carb

- Zucchini flax muffin w/ butter
- Burger with all the fixin's on an oopsie roll
- Low carb almond ice cream bar
- Cocoa roasted almonds
- Oopsie cheesy bread w/ ranch dressing
- Pizza made on oopsie pizza crust
- LC cheesecake with natural peanut butter as garnish

Eating like this... no wonder I am afraid to get on the scale! I need to quit eating so much.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Day 161 Low Carb

Day 161

- Just like velveeta casserole
- Oopsie roll with butter
- Two low carb zucchini flax muffins with caramel dip
- Double cheeseburger on an oopsie, deluxe style

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Day 160 Low Carb Zucchini Muffins

Day 160

- Just like Velveeta casserole
- Two zucchini flax muffins with Walden's No Carb Caramel Dip
- Hot pepper jack cheese
- French toast, made from oopsies with Walden's No Carb Pancake Syrup
- Hot ham, swiss, tomato and mayo on an oopsie bun

The zucchini flax muffin recipe called for caramel extract, but I do not have any, so I swirled in a small spoon-ful of the caramel dip into each muffin before baking! They are excellent! I baked them in my muffin top pans and they taste like nice little lovely cakes... sweet and satisfying.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Day 159: Emotional Eating

Day 159

- Oopsie french toast with Walden's sugar free pancake syrup and sausage patties
- BLT on an oopsie roll
- Meatloaf
- Cocoa roasted almonds
- Two SF fudgsicles
- Just like velveeta casserole

All day long, I wanted to order a pizza along with cheese sticks or go to the Chinese food buffet and just eat everything in sight. I was having fantasies about it. Sick, really. I think a small part of it is dehydration.... but I'd say that the lion's share of my hunger was because I was in the mood to do some emotional eating. You know, eat to cover your feelings sort of thing. I felt like a recovering alcoholic, dying to get drunk.... Knowing I could go to that place where I eat so much that nothing hurts at all.

The good thing is me noticing the emotional eating and allowing myself to do so, using low-carb alternatives. Of course, I could have had a better day, but I can't beat myself up about it too much knowing my history.

I have been thinking about putting this blog on the back burner, but really, I need the accountability and I need to track my food or else I eat way too much...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Day 158 Low Carb "Rice"

Day 158 Low Carb

- Mashed cauliflower with butter
- Burger with all the fixins on an oopsie bun
- Hot ham, hot pepper jack cheese, tomato & mayo on an oopsie bun
- Cocoa roast almonds
- Pork and shrimp stir-fry, over riced cauliflower*

Oh em gee! Wow, this was so good! I think the cauliflower works best for "rice" when you make it in the microwave. For a 16 oz bag of frozen cauliflower, use about two tablespoons of water and cook it for 7-10 minutes in the microwave, shaking the covered microwavable bowl after five minutes. Drain well in a strainer and grate it with a cheese grater. Do not try to use a food processor (unless the cauliflower is raw) or you will end up with mashed cauliflower.

Once grated, add butter, salt and pepper (or your favorite rice seasonings) and serve. This holds up well as leftovers, but I've never tried to freeze it.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Day 157

Day 157

- Burger on an oopsie with all the fixin's
- Meatloaf
- Peanut butter cheesecake
- Ham and hot pepper cheese on an oopsie with mayo and tomato
- Slice of Deluxe American cheese
- SF popsicle
- Cocoa roasted almonds

I've been craving sweets, all day long! I still am craving them...

Day 156 Low Carb

Day 156 Low Carb

- Mashed cauliflower
- Meatloaf sandwich on an oopsie roll
- Pork and shrimp stir-fry
- Meatloaf sandwich on an oopsie roll
- Peanut butter cheesecake

Monday, November 2, 2009

Day 155 Low Carb Meatloaf Madness!

Day 155

- Mashed cauliflower
- Hamburger with hot pepper jack cheese, grilled onions, mayo, mustard & ketchup on an oopsie
- Buttered broccoli
- Low carb meatloaf**
- Meatloaf on an oopsie sandwich with hot pepper cheese & mayo
- Low carb peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream

**I have found that you can make any meatloaf recipe low-carb by subbing out the breadcrumbs for Parmesan cheese. Most of the time, I only put about 75% of what it calls for, but lots of people sub it cup-for-cup.

Soo... make Mom's meatloaf, just leave out those breadcrumbs!!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Day 154 Low Carb

Day 154

- Pizza on oopsie pizza crust
- Cheesy bread on oopsie pizza crust
- Mashed cauliflower
- Hamburger with swiss cheese, tomato, onion, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Low carb peanut butter cheesecake

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Day 153

Day 153

- Low carb pizza on oopsie crust
- Cheesy bread on oopsie crust with ranch dressing
- Fried fish
- BBQ Ribs with a small amount of BBQ sauce
- Pizza gondolas

Friday, October 30, 2009

Day 152 Low Carb Cheesy Bread

Day 152

- Swiss cheeseburger with tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie bun
- Bratwurst with onions, cheese, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on half an oopsie bun
- Pizza on oopsie pizza crust with No Sugar Added Hunt's spaghetti sauce, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, mushrooms and red peppers with oopsie cheesy bread (pictured below)



To make the cheesy bread, I baked an oopsie pizza crust and brushed it with alfredo sauce (you could also use butter) and added mozzarella and cheddar cheese. I baked it for about 12 minutes at 350 degrees. It tastes just like cheesy bread!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Day 151 Low Carb

Day 151 Low Carb

- Two brats with onions, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on oopsies
- White pizza on oopsie crust
- Pizza gondolas

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Day 150 Low Carb White Pizza

Day 150 Low Carb

- Easy chunky chicken vegetable soup
- Low carb NY cheesecake with 1 tablespoon peanut butter
- White pizza made on an oopsie crust
- Bratwurst with cheese, onions, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup an oopsie
- One pizza gondola

Here is the pizza with the oopsie crust.... This is the first time I've ever made it. I just used a regular cookie sheet (without sides) because I don't have a proper pizza pan. I sprayed the cookie sheet with non-stick spray and made big mound of the oopsie batter... then kind of pressed it down a little bit with a big spoon. My crust was the same size as when I slid it in the oven; it did not settle at all like a cookie would... and it's shockingly sturdy and very low carb. What more could a girl ask for in a pizza crust??


Caution: enlarging photo may cause pizza cravings!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Day 149 and doin' fine!

Day 149

- One egg, scrambled in butter
- Meatloaf sandwich with swiss on an oopsie roll
- 2 pc. fried fish with breading peeled off
- Meatloaf sandwich with swiss on an oopsie roll
- 1 tsp. natural chunky peanut butter

Monday, October 26, 2009

Low Carb - Day 148.... Still feeling great

Day 148 Low carb

- Meatloaf with reduced sugar ketchup
- Josie's spaghetti squash monterey
- Low carb New York cheesecake
- Ribeye (off the grill) with mashed cauliflower

Progress Pics! Progress... not perfection, right?

I'm nearing my 5 month mark and Nancy did mention wanting to see Progress pics... So here goes nothing:








Do I look skinnier than before?

I'm going to lose 50 more pounds in the next 5 months....

Have a seat, grab some scrambled eggs and hop on this wild ride with me!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Day 147 - In low carb mashed potato heaven!

Day 147

- Meatloaf with reduced sugar ketchup
- Josie's spaghetti squash - made with hot pepper jack cheese
- Mashed cauliflower, drowned in sausage/hamburger alfredo "gravy"

I really love the mashed cauliflower. I put in some Parmesan and chives and wow! When I ate a spoonful of them, they really tasted just like potatoes... not cauliflower. Crazy, huh?? These will definitely be a staple around here. Thanks for the tip, Harry!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Day 146 - Doing my high kicks

Day 146

- Two cheeseburgers with all the fixin's on oopsie rolls
- Meatloaf with reduced sugar Heinz ketchup
- Josie's spaghetti squash

More than anything lately, I've noticed how much energy I have. I swear eating low-carb gives me all this energy.... So, if you think you need to "carb up" to get energy.... you are crazy. Even at my highest weight, I've been able to do "high kicks" (kick my hands with my feet), but now I seem to do them all the time and like 15 in a row at least.... I know it sounds crazy... but I'm bursting at the seams with energy.

Before, when I was eating all kinds of carbs, I was lucky to get through the day without a nap or two.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Day 145 and Still Alive!

Day 145

- Burger on an oopsie roll with swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup
- Sausage patty
- Low carb pancakes with Walden's zero carb - zero calorie pancake syrup
- Alfredo meat sauce with mushrooms served over spaghetti squash

Thursday, October 22, 2009

I Cured My Acanthosis Nigricans!!! No more dirt ring!

It's embarrassing to admit, but I had what looked like a "dirt ring" around my neck for at least 15 years. No, it was not really DIRT, but a condition called Acanthosis Nigricans. I remember it being there when I was 12 years old, but I'm sure it showed up sometime in the years before.

It turns out that it was due to a build-up of INSULIN in my blood. I was pre-diabetic! My body was showing insulin resistance on my skin! The thought of me having to poke myself with needles and all the crap the comes with having Diabetes scares the shit out of me. It just seems like such a horrible life-long cross to bear. I know that people have turned it around and quite frankly, I may be one of them!

Now, I have never had my blood sugar tested (that I know of) and this is horrible! Looking back, I think I've just been in complete denial because I didn't want to find out I was a diabetic... or any bad news, really. Ignorance is bliss, right?

It actually caused me a lot of grief. Everybody knows how sensitive teenage girls can be about their perceived imperfections. I would really hate wearing my hair in a pony tail (and I had to sometimes) because I hated the thought of anybody seeing my seemingly "dirty" neck. In fact, when I worked in food service and had to wear my hair back, I always wore a collared shirt to make sure that I would not have a problem with anybody seeing my dirt ring.

Tonight, I have my hair in a high ponytail, and I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

"Where is my dirt ring
?" I thought.... I leaned in closer in the mirror, inspecting my neck. It's virtually gone! It was very gray/dark and now it's so light that I really can't see it at all. My mom told me a few weeks ago that she didn't see it, but I thought she was just being nice and I could kind of still see it.

Do I care what my neck looks like? Maybe a little bit, but more importantly, I am no longer on the way to becoming Diabetic!!! That is the biggest non-scale victory that I could ever hope for. If you are plagued by this "dirt ring," being on a very low-carb diet has proven to cure acanthosis nigricans for me! It really makes sense when you think of it on a solely biological level. I LOVE what this low carb diet (and by diet I mean what I eat on a daily basis; not fad-diet) is doing to apparently regulate my blood sugar.

I know this is a crazy question, but can I test my own blood sugar without going to the doctor? I really have a phobia of doctors (which I must get over), but really, where could I better spend my money now that I'm thinking about it? Yeah, I will find a good primary care physician that I'm comfortable with and get all my labs done.

This is what I found about it over at AOL Health:
"Experts suggest that AN may be a skin manifestation of insulin resistance, which is a condition characterized by impaired biological responses to insulin. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, regulates blood glucose levels by promoting the movement of glucose into cells for energy production or into the liver and fat cells for energy storage. (Glucose is a simple sugar that is the body's primary source of energy for cell metabolism.) Some clinicians suggest that insulin resistance causes a build-up of the hormone in the blood, and then it finds its way into skin cells. Insulin resistance may be associated with various disorders, including obesity and non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes mellitus. In individuals with type II diabetes mellitus, the pancreas produces insulin but the body becomes resistant to its effects, leading to insufficient absorption of glucose and abnormally increased glucose levels in the blood (hyperglycemia) and urine. As a result, there may be a gradual onset of certain symptoms, including excessive urination (polyuria) and increased thirst (polydipsia), and the development of particular complications without appropriate treatment."

Full article here.

I just want to take this sappy moment and thank all my blogging friends for essentially saving my life! No, I take that back. I'm saving my own life... with your support! So thanks for reading and being on this wild ride with me... ;)

Day 144 - Low Carb

Day 144 Low Carb

- Nancy's chunky chicken vegetable soup
- Chicken salad with deluxe American cheese on an oopsie roll

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Day 143

Day 143 Low Carb

- Side salad with ranch dressing
- One chicken strip with ranch dressing
- One mozz stick with ranch dressing

I wasn't hungry today because I was feeling so sick. Even water was not staying down.... then I had to attend my stepmom's 40th birthday dinner. Sometimes, you gotta do what you gotta do. I figured I wasn't contagious since I've been sick for days now. It was definitely fun to see everybody and I feel much better now.

Several schools in SW Michigan have been closed, due to illness. I don't think I've ever heard of such a thing!

Be well, everybody! I swear what got me through this illness quickly was water, water, water!

Day 142

Day 142

- Two sausage patties
- Cheesy scrambled eggs
- Meatballs, fried chicken breast, kielbasa, green bean casserole and small scoop of chicken w/ dumplins**

**This was what I found at the post-funeral luncheon. I should have omitted the dumplins! My first cousin lost her battle with cancer at the young age of 42. She was a daughter, mother, neice, granddaughter and friend. RIP, Helen.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Day 141

Day 141 Low Carb

- Meat sauce (marinara) served over spaghetti squash
- 1/2 chicken salad sandwich on an oopsie roll

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Day 140 Tips from a Spaghetti Squash Lover

Day 140

- Bratwurst on an oopsie roll with sauteed green peppers & onions, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup
- Swiss cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with romaine lettuce, tomato, purple onion, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup
- Low carb New York style cheesecake
- Meat sauce served over spaghetti squash noodles*

*I learned a little trick when I baked the spaghetti squash this time. Before, I was baking it a full hour, which were making the strands of squash more squash-like that noodle-like. This time, I only baked it for 45 mins at 350 degrees and it was soooo much better, texture-wise.

To bake spaghetti squash, wash it and cut it in half. Scoop out all the seeds inside. Place rind-side-up on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes and scoop out "noodles" with a fork. This is a fantastic pasta alternative. I even like them better than traditional noodles because they are kind of sweet and just awesome tasting. They are awesome with both tomato sauces and also Alfredo or other white sauces.

If the rind starts to get brown while baking , be sure to pull it because that means it's actually on the over-done side, so pull the pan!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Advice from Yoda

Do or do not. There is no try.

Day 139 Low Carbohydrate

Day 139 and feeling fine - Low carb journey

- Roasted chicken leg
- Burger on an oopsie with tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup
- Low carb New York style cheesecake
- Half a bratwurst on an oopsie with sauteed green peppers, onions, mustard and ketchup
- Ribeye steak, grilled with mushrooms and onions
- Just like stuffed baked potato
- Broccoli with butter

Friday, October 16, 2009

Day 138 Low Carb

Day 138 Low Carb

- Pizza gondolas
- Meatballs on an oopsie roll with cheese and onions
- Low carb New York cheesecake
- Bratwurst on an oopsie roll
- English steak
- Just like stuffed baked potato

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Day 137 Low Carb

Day 137 Low Carb

- Cheeseburger with onions, tomato, mustard, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Spaghetti squash with hot pepper jack cheese
- Pizza gondolas
- Raw almonds

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Day 136 Meatball madness

Day 136 Low Carb

- Meatball sandwich: meatballs in sugar free spaghetti sauce on an oopsie roll with deluxe American cheese and purple onion
- Meatballs in sugar free spaghetti sauce with spaghetti squash
- Raw almonds
- More meatballs with more spaghetti squash, an oopsie roll, and another slice of deluxe American cheese

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Day 135 - Low carb lifestyle

Day 135 Low Carb for Life!

- Cheesy tuna casserole
- Cheeseburger with onions, romaine lettuce, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Raw almonds
- Baked meatballs with low carb marinara sauce served over spaghetti squash with a buttered oopsie roll and a slice of deluxe American cheese

Monday, October 12, 2009

Day 134: Low Carb Galore!

Day 134 Low Carb Lifestyle

- Tuna casserole with reduced sugar ketchup
- 4 oz English steak, pan-fried
- 2 oz raw natural almonds
- Baked meatballs with a tiny amount of No Sugar Added Hunt's spaghetti sauce

Another pound gone.... yay!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Day 133 Low Carb

Day 133 Low Carb Daily

- Salad with romaine lettuce, bacon, cheese and Ranch dressing
- Burger with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Cheesy tuna casserole
- Two pieces low carb pound cake
- Two sausage patties

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Day 132 Low Carb

Day 132

- Mushrooms stuffed with sausage and cheese
- Cheeseburger with purple onion, romaine lettuce, mayo, mustard and low carb ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Low carb pound cake
- Sugar-free creamsicle
- Two tacos on cauliflower taco shells with seasoned ground beef, romaine lettuce, salsa, sour cream and hot pepper jack cheese

Friday, October 9, 2009

Day 131

Day 131

- Cheeseburger with lettuce, onion, tomato, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Mushrooms stuffed with sausage, cream cheese and cheddar
- A spoonful of peanut butter (teaspoon) with whipped cream on top
- Turkey and deluxe American cheese with mayo on an oopsie roll

Progress is being made! 15 more pounds to go and I will be at my lowest adult weight... And that was like six years ago when I was 21. Before, I lost 64 pounds, only to re-gain every single one back. I think the real key is making whatever you are doing a lifestyle so that you can sustain it for more than just losing the weight... the real work is to keep it off.

What am I going to do differently this time to keep my weight off? Well... I am NOT going to ignore the scale. I will NOT fool myself into thinking "I'm done" with my weight loss and getting TOO COMFORTABLE and eat whatever I want, thinking I'm invincible to re-gaining the weight. I think it's a real fear... re-gaining our weight back.... I even have nightmares about it sometimes.

What do you do to make sure you don't gain the weight back?

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Day 130

Day 130 Low Carb : Day 130 already??

- Cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with romaine lettuce, purple onion, low carb ketchup, mayo, mustard and low carb ketchup
- Mushroom caps stuffed with sausage, cream cheese and cheddar cheese
- Two tacos with seasoned ground beef (taco seasoning recipe here), sharp colby cheese, salsa, sour cream and romaine lettuce on cauliflower taco shells
- Low carb strawberry shortcake: pound cake made with EZ Sweetz, strawberries sweetened with Splenda and whipped cream

For a while there, I was going to have to change the title of my blog to "cheeseburger a day" blog... I am clearly burger-obsessed. Well... they are just so cheap, low-carb and perfect on an oopsie roll! *sigh* The truth is, I've always loved burgers. I think you really have to do low-carb in your own way... kind of switching up your current high-carb staple recipes.

I have cut way back on the amount of onion I was using... I really wasn't using that much, but only a tiny amount of onion can go a long way. I find myself cutting a ring of purple onion into little pieces and sprinkling it on my burger. Well... I do that with a couple of the little rings. I've been reading a lot about the wondrous properties of onions and kind of not thinking about the carbs when I pile them on my burgers. This has to change. I think sometimes, as time goes along, we get a little "sloppier" about our carbs as Dr. Eades would say. What is your secret little item that you are sometimes a little sloppy with? Confession time!!

The mushrooms are very good... but they are really rich. I think they would go nicely with scrambled eggs or broccoli or something with not as much bite. I can only eat 2-3 at a time.... and at one carb each... who can argue them? These little babies give you a LOT of bang for your buck on the carb count end. My uncle used to make these, back when he was on Atkins and I just kind of remembered his and threw them together. I think I will pair them with turkey on Thanskgiving. They are kind of stuffing-esque.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Day 129 Low Carb

Day 129

- Mushrooms stuffed with sausage, cream cheese and cheddar cheese
- Roast beef with reduced sugar ketchup
- Three strawberries with whipped cream
- Turkey & cheese pannini grilled with butter on an oopsie roll, with tomato and mayo
- Root beer float: whipped cream with Diet A&W root beer
- Cheeseburger with onions, lettuce, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Day 128 Low Carb

Day 128 Low Carb

- Sausage and cream cheese and cheddar cheese stuffed mushrooms
- Two tacos on cauliflower taco shells with taco meat, salsa, cheese, sour cream and romaine lettuce

Monday, October 5, 2009

Day 127 Low Carb

Day 127 Low Carb

- Roast beef with reduced sugar ketchup
- Oopsie roll
- 1/4 cup peas*
- Low carb pound cake with splenda-sweetened strawberries and whipped cream
- 100 calorie pack cocoa roasted almonds (I'm glad these are gone)
- Peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream
- Turkey, cheese, romaine lettuce, tomato and mayo on an oopsie roll

*Peas are not low carb! However, they seemed like the best option at the roast beef luncheon I attended. My grandma takes us every year and it's usually a total binge-fest for me and the home made pies! Peas are an old favorite of mine. I skipped corn, cole slaw, apple sauce, rolls and all of the home made desserts. Trust me, I ate a lot of roast beef and I told the pea man, "half a scoop."

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Day 126 Low Carb Food Log

Day 126 Low Carb Daily

- Sausage, egg and cheese on an oopsie roll
- Just like stuffed baked potato
- Cheeseburger with onion, tomato, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Better Cheddar bratwurst on an oopsie roll with mustard, onions, cheese and reduced sugar ketchup
- No bake low carb peanut butter cheesecake

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Day 125 Low Carb : Linda Sue's Update

Day 125 Low Carb

- Cheeseburger with tomato, onion, lettuce, mayo, mustard & reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Just like stuffed baked potato
- Cheeseburger with tomato, onion, lettuce, mayo, mustard & reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Spaghetti squash pizza
- Low carb strawberry shortcake: pound cake, strawberries sweetened with Splenda and topped with whipped cream

Please read the update on Linda Sue's site. She and her family are facing some unforeseen problems and need your thoughts, prayers and well wishes now more than ever.

Personally, Linda Sue has changed my life and that is not an exaggeration in the least bit. I make her recipes almost daily and she never asks for anything back from the low carb world. She publishes her recipes for free, with pictures, ratings and she just has such a lovely spirit about her. I don't know her personally, but what she shares with the world without asking for one thing back is simply inspiration in itself.

Please consider using her paypal button for a donation if you can spare a few dollars. If not, prayers and thoughts definitely needed and kindly appreciated.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Day 124 Low Carb Lifer & Strawberry Shortcake

Day 124: Low Carb Galore and Strawberry Shortcake... oh my!

- Just like stuffed baked potato
- Cheeseburger with hot pepper jack cheese, tomato, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie bun
- 100 calorie pack cocoa roasted almonds
- Spaghetti squash pizza: cooked spaghetti squash mixed with sour cream and cheese, topped with 1 cup sugar free spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, sliced deli ham, mushrooms and pepperoni, baked in a pie plate (getting creative with the leftovers)
- Strawberry shortcake: pound cake, strawberries sweetened with granular Splenda, topped with whipped cream

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Day 123 Low Carb Plan

Day 123 Low Carb

- Sausage patty, egg and deluxe American cheese on an oopsie roll
- Cocoa roasted almonds (2-100 calorie packs)
- Hamburger with deluxe American cheese, tomato, romaine lettuce, mustard, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Spaghetti squash mixed with sour cream and cheese and baked
- Hamburger with deluxe hot pepper jack cheese, tomato, romaine lettuce, mustard, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Day 122 Low Carb Living

Day 122 Low Carb

- Pork chop with just like stuffed baked potato and reduced sugar ketchup
- Cocoa roasted almonds (2-100 calorie packs)
- Hamburger with deluxe American cheese, mayo, onion, tomato and lettuce on an oopsie... dipped in reduced sugar ketchup
- Too many Low carb pancakes with no carb pancake syrup, two sausage patties and one egg with a slice of dexluxe American cheese
- 1.5 pieces peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream

Most of the day today, I felt like I was just eating because I wanted to eat, not because I was hungry. Well, I was hungry for breakfast... but the rest of the day, I used food for other-than-sustenance reasons... Me acknowledging it means that I can change it. (Am I Dr. Phil yet?) Sometimes, I just feel like I want to eat, and that is crap. Food is fuel.... simply. When I first started this journey, I was very in-tune with my body and listening to my hunger, which is actually not that hard to do when you are eating low-carb. Before low-carb, controlling my hunger was laughable.... because I was mostly feeling those highs and lows of the sugar/startch crap.

Vadim, I feel much better now... energy-wise... mood-wise... and I find that with 46 less pounds on me, it's just easier to get around... but mind you - I'm still overweight and I'm close to halfway through my journey.

I no longer count on this thing dubbed "will power." There are days when I'm gung-ho about eating low carb, and honestly, other days, I do wonder if it's even worth it. (This is that little chubby fat girl inside me that wants her cake! I keep her mostly stifled and I'm slowly killing her off and getting her to like salad). I'm just being realistic because I want other people to know that it's natural not to be GUNG-HO *all* the time.

What is different now... is that I have a plan. On the days I want to just throw the towel in, I allow myself low carb "junk food" when I feel the need to cram my face with something sweet, loaded with fat, and high-calorie. Sometimes, I even binge. I'm FAR from perfect and I do not eat as "clean" as I should.... but this is about progress, not perfection... and making better choices each day.

Thanks so much for reading, but please, don't think that what I'm doing is a perfect example... Dr. Atkins would be rolling over in his grave at the amount of cheese I sometimes consume! I do find it VERY helpful to log what I do eat... because I tend to eat less when I do that... and also, mostly, to track what is working.... Oh, and mostly, so you guys can all kick my ass if I go off my plan!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Day 121 Low Carbohydrate Plan

Day 121

- Mom's crazy cabbage made in crockpot
- Burger with deluxe American cheese, romaine lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Pork chop with reduced sugar ketchup with just like loaded baked potato*
- Half a piece of low carb peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream

*I really like this side dish! I doubled the amount of cauliflower in this and omitted the bacon. If you are craving a loaded baked potato, this will definitely satisfy that craving for you! It really does taste like a baked potato... especially if you use a little dollop of sour cream on top. I opted for a little ketchup instead.

Day 120

Day 120 of my Low Carb Journey

- Two low carb pancakes with Walden's syrup, two sausage patties and two scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese
- Grilled pork chop with some Mom's crazy cabbage
- Cocoa roasted almonds
- Low carb spaghetti squash casserole
- Steak-um with mayo, swiss, tomato an an oopsie roll

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Day 119 H20 is my friend

Day 119

- Spaghetti squash casserole with an oopsie made into cheesy-garlic bread
- Pancakes with zero carb syrup
- Cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with tomato, onion, mayo and ketchup
- Steak-um oopsie with grilled onions, mayo and swiss
- Two-100 calories packs of cocoa-roasted almonds
- Ten large glasses of water

I'm now tracking how many tall glasses of water I drink, with a goal of at least seven tall glasses per day. After about 5 glasses, I was just craving it. It was like my body was saying, "yes, please, MORE water!"

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Day 118... trying to get more lean!

Day 118

- Low carb french vanilla protein shake with a scoop of french vanilla protein powder, 1 T natural peanut butter (chunky), half cup water, a few ice cubes, Sweetleaf Stevia, 1 heaping teaspoon sugar free butterscotch pudding mix, shredded unsweetened coconut, all blended with my stick blender
- 100 calorie pack (0.63 oz) cocoa roasted almonds = 2 carbs (portion control for the win!)
- Low carb pancakes with two sausage patties... all with Walden's pancake syrup
- Double cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with tomato, onions, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup

Nancy - I would say for the whole shake, it has about eight carbs or so maybe ten... I'm just estimating though... 3 carbs for the protein powder... 2 for the peanut butter, 2 for the pudding mix, and maybe 2 for the coconut... I love this shake! it tastes too good to be true. You could add heavy cream, but I don't that to my shakes because I'm trying to watch my dairy intake... I am a cheese-a-holic so I like to reserve lots of my dairy for that.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Suggestions, please!

Due to my newfound protein shake obsession... I will be buying more protein powders.

Does anybody have any suggestions on good flavors that are low-carb? I really love the french vanilla whey, so I'm sure I will get more of that... but is there any flavor that I just have to have?

Also, I usually shop netrition, so I will probably shop there... unless there is a far cheaper source? I know they usually have very good prices and quick and cheap shipping.

Please tell me which flavors and brands are the best... I'm a total protein-shake newbie!

By the way, for all you protein shake junkies and wannabes, check out this awesome list!

Day 117 - My new favorite low carb protein shake/smoothie

Day 117

- Chicken salad on an oopsie roll with onion
- Double whopper on an oopsie roll with lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup
- Spaghetti squash casserole
- Half a piece of pound cake with whipped cream
- Low carb smoothie with a scoop of all-natural french vanilla whey protein powder, 3 ice cubes, half cup water, shredded coconut, a little Stevia, 1 tablespoon chunky natural peanut butter and 1 heaping teaspoon sugar free butterscotch pudding mix*

*This smoothie is soooo good! You have to try it out. Just a small amount of the pudding mix seems to go a long way, flavor-wise.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Low Carb Recipe: Spaghetti Squash Casserole

(This low carb recipe was inspired by this recipe for Italian spaghetti squash bake).

- 1 spaghetti squash
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb sausage
- 1/3 cup onion, chopped
- 1 whole green pepper, chopped
- 4 oz can mushrooms
- 2 cups Sugar free spaghetti sauce (I used Hunt's sugar free spaghetti sauce)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar (I used colby-jack)
- 2 eggs
- Nonstick cooking spray

Cut squash in half and scrape out seeds. Bake, cut-side down, on a cookie sheet for about an hour at 375 degrees. In the meantime, brown ground beef, sausage, onions, green peppers and mushrooms in large skillet or soup kettle. Drain fat and stir in spaghetti sauce of your choice.

Let squash cool for about 20-30 mins and then scrape it out into long spaghetti strands, into a greased 9x12 casserole dished. Stir the eggs into the spaghetti squash. Mix squash together with your spaghetti sauce mixture and top with shredded cheddar and bake for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Wow, this is very good! My mom hates green peppers, but she loves this. I told her after she was raving about how good it was that I snuck a green pepper in.

Day 116 Low Carb

Day 116

- Low carb vanilla protein shake with 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter and 1/4 cup shredded coconut, sweetened with Sweetleaf Stevia
- Low carb vanilla protein shake with 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter, 2 T whole ground flax meal and 1/4 cup shredded coconut, sweetened with Sweetleaf Stevia*
- Chicken salad with tomato and onions on an oopsie roll
- Spaghetti Squash Casserole (recipe will be posted)

*Maybe I used too much flax meal in this shake, but I could not even finish the whole thing. I wasn't too crazy about the taste... At first, I loved the way it thickened it up, but by the end, it was a little too much. I know that it has great health benefits, so I will try to incorporate it in with my dinner instead of my protein shakes.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Day 115 - Buffet mode - ugh!

Day 115

- Low carb all-natural vanilla protein shake with 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter, 1/4 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut and Sweetleaf Stevia to taste
- Salad with eggs, cheese, raw mushrooms, bacon bits and ranch dressing
- Salisbury steak with gravy and mushrooms, green beans, cooked cabbage, sausage link with green pepper, roast beef with reduced sugar ketchup (yes - I bring my own), deep fried chicken breast (skin peeled off) dipped in ranch dressing

WOW! Old Country Buffet sure has a lot of options for eating healthy. Now, I'm sure a lot of it has hidden carbs... you really never know what you are getting sometimes. Unfortunately, I was sooo hungry when we arrived there today so I ate and ate and ate and ate some more! I ate five hours ago and I'm still soooo not hungry. I was famished and in buffet-mode... but thank goodness that I stayed away from ALL of the carb-laden crap. I'm sure the gravy was not the best choice and I only had a tad of it... I tried to get a piece with not much on it.

Day 114 Low Carb

Day 114

- Three egg omelet with ham, bacon, sausage and hot pepper jack cheese with ketchup
- Grilled pork chop with ketchup
- Roast beef with sauteed mushrooms and onions, mayo and swiss on an oopsie roll

Monday, September 21, 2009

Day 113

DAY 113

- Low carb all-natural vanilla protein shake with shredded unsweetened coconut, Sweetleaf Liquid Stevia and 1 tbs natural chunky peanut butter
- Two grilled hot dogs on an oopsie roll with onions, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup
- Grilled pork chop with ketchup
- Small serving of broccoli, zucchini, roasted red peppers, onions and mushrooms in homemade alfredo sauce with ground beef
- French toast made from an oopsie roll with zero calorie-zero carb pancake syrup and two sausage patties

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Day 112

Day 112

- Assorted cheese slices (smoked cheddar, hot pepper and sharp colby)
- Roast beef with mushrooms, onions, swiss and mayo on an oopsie roll
- Jalapeno poppers
- Broccoli, zucchini, roasted red peppers, onions and mushrooms in homemade alfredo sauce with ground beef
- Grilled pork chop with ketchup
- Two hot dogs on oopsies with mustard, reduced sugar ketchup and diced onions

Had end-of-summer bonfire today... complete with s'mores! I know that it looks like I ate too much today, and I surely did... but guess what? I skipped all of the yummy desserts people brought and did not even have a roasted marshmallow. I don't think I've ever turned down a s'more in my life... but If I want to lose s'more weight... I certainly will. In the past, throwing a party or even attending one was DEFINITELY a reason to veer off my plan.

Day 111

Day 111

- Cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with tomato, onions, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Pound cake made with liquid splenda with whipped cream
- Cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with tomato, onions, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with tomato, onions, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll

Friday, September 18, 2009

Day 110 Low Carb

Day 110

- Josie's spaghetti squash monterey
- Double cheeseburger with tomato, romaine lettuce, onion, mustard, reduced sugar ketchup and mayo on an oopsie roll
- Half a piece of pound cake
- Two 2-carb sugar free creamsicles
- Cheese sticks with ranch dressing
- Low carb chicken nuggets with ranch dressing

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Day 109 Low Carb Daily

Day 109

- Low carb vanilla protein shake with shredded coconut, natural peanut butter and stevia
- Taco bake with salsa and sour cream
- Swiss cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup
- Macaroons
- Josie's Spaghetti squash monterey
- Bologna and smoked cheddar cheese an an oopsie with mayo

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Day 108 and feeling great

Day 108

- Double cheeseburger with romaine lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Josie's spaghetti squash monterey
- Macaroons
- Taco bake with salsa and sour cream

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Day 107 Low Carb: Morbidly Obese Teens on Tyra

Day 107

- Low carb peanut butter vanilla protein shake with shredded coconut and stevia
- Low carb macaroons
- Swiss grilled cheeseburger with tomato, onion, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Josie's spaghetti squash monterey *
- Taco bake with salsa and sour cream

*I've never made this before, but it's YUMMY. It's definitely a keeper. I used hot pepper jack cheese.

Finally, I heard some great advice on television! I love the Tyra show... she is so real. She has obese teens on her show today... All of the female teens are at least one hundred, in some cases two hundred pounds overweight... I really expected them to put these girls on low-fat diets.... just because that is what I've come to expect from TV. Guess what! The nutritionist who came out told them that they will not be counting calories or weighing themselves.... I was hopeful.

"The only thing you will be counting," Jorge Cruise told the hopeful girls, "is sugar and carbohydrates..." Sweet success! Finally, giving the super morbidly obese a plan that they can stick to... and will work! Go Tyra for highlighting a plan that works!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Day 106 Low Carb for LIFE!

DAY 106

- Swiss cheeseburger off the grill with romaine lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup, all on an oopsie roll
- Low carb pancakes with Walden's pancakes syrup
- Low carb macaroons made with zero carb sweetener
- Low carb pancakes with zero carb pancake syrup with two sausage patties

Check out my weight update! Yippeeeeeee!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Day 105 Low Carbohydrate Food List

DAY 105 of my Low Carb Life

- Low carb natural vanilla protein shake with natural peanut butter, shredded coconut and stevia
- Zucchini, coated in egg and Parmesan cheese - pan fried in butter
- Grilled pork chop, dipped in ketchup
- No bake low carb peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream
- Swiss cheeseburger on an oopsie roll with tomatoes, onions, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup
- 1 oz smoked cheddar cheese

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Day 104 Low Carb Journey

Day 104 Low Carb

- French vanilla protein shake with shredded coconut and stevia
- Shrimp dipped in low carb cocktail sauce
- Broccoli stuffed baked chicken breast
- Side salad with purple onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheddar and ranch dressing
- Hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo and ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Two pancakes with zero carb pancake syrup and two sausage patties

Friday, September 11, 2009

Day 103 - Low Carb Daily

DAY 103

- Meatballs and swiss on an oopsie with a little sugar free spaghetti sauce
- Broccoli-stuffed baked chicken breast
- Buttered steamed broccoli and cauliflower
- Meatballs and swiss on an oopsie with a little sugar free spaghetti sauce

I can't believe it's been 103 days already. These days would have passed whether I decided to do anything about my weight or not, so I'm glad that I'm making good decisions. If I could say I've learned one thing in 27 years, it's that life is transitory. Everything is fleeting... It's so exciting and exhausting all at the same time! Don't blink or you'll miss it!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Day 102 Low-Carb Daily

Day 102 Low Carb

- Low-carb coconut vanilla protein shake (a scoop of natural whey protein powder, a few ice cubes, a half cup of water, 1/3 cup shredded coconut, 8 drops stevia, and 1 tsp peanut butter)*
- Swiss cheeseburger with tomato, onions, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Broccoli-cauliflower gratin
- A piece of peanut butter cheesecake
- Meatballs in sugar free marinara sauce, served over spaghetti squash
- Sugar-free Creamsicle (2 net carbs)

*I usually use more peanut butter than this... but with the two peanut butter cheesecakes I've made recently... I'm out of natural peanut butter! Thanks to Harry for the protein shake idea!

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.... It's about learning to dance in the rain! ~Author Unknown

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Day 101 Low-carb: Still having fun

Day 101 Low Carb Daily

- LC peanut butter protein shake with coconut*
- Broccoli - cauliflower gratin
- Meatballs with Hunt's sugar free marinara sauce over spaghetti squash with an oopsie on side
- 1 oz raw almonds/walnuts mixed
- Two chicken breast tenders, coated in Parmesan cheese
- Swiss cheeseburger with tomato, onions, ketchup, mustard and mayo on an oopsie roll

This peanut butter/coconut shake is incredible! I swear, with the addition of the coconut, this filled me up for a long time. The coconut makes it so much thicker.... Thanks to the Healthy Fellow for the awesome recipe!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Day 100 Yay! Virutal cocktail party with shrimp....

DAY 100 - If I can get to day 100, anybody can....

- Cottage cheese from Cracker Barrel
- Half pound bacon cheeseburger with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, ketchup and mayo on an oopsie from Cracker Barrel
- A piece of peanut butter cheesecake
- 1 oz raw almonds/walnuts mix
- A small grilled pork rib with reduced sugar ketchup
- Four jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese
- Shrimp dipped in low carb cocktail sauce*

To make this cocktail sauce, I just mixed Heinz reduced sugar ketchup with some Horseradish. It turned out so good! I learned this easy recipe when I worked at this deli. Start out by just adding a little bit of horseradish and slowly add more, tasting it as you go. I use at least a couple teaspoons per half cup... at least. Every day when we would have deep fried shrimp for the special, I would be in charge of whipping this easy two-ingredient cocktail sauce.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Day 99: Back in the right frame of mind

Day 99

-1 oz ham lunch meat
- Assorted cheese cubes (hot pepper jack and cheddar)
- Buttered broccoli
- Two grilled hot dogs, rolled up in oopsie buns, with diced onions, mustard and reduced sugar Heinz ketchup
- Two grilled pork ribs
- Broccoli/Cauliflower Gratin with ketchup

This morning, when woke up on day 100, I was back to my Day 80 weight. Now, this is still roughly 40 lbs down from my weight 100 days ago, which really is phenomenal. Still, this is a 2.6 lb gain in the last 10 days. I was shocked and dismayed! I really just need to start eating better quality food, with less sodium... and less of it. There are times when I do feel satisfied and I will keep on eating, just because it's on my plate. I looked at my menu for day 99 and wow, I ate salty foods all day. Still, I've been doing a lot of entertaining lately and I haven't eaten any bad carbs - so this is an accomplishment for me.

Now, I've also been exercising, so I am hoping that some of that gain is muscle. Also, my waist size is smaller than my last weigh-in ... I feel like I should point that out. Plus, the last 100 days, I've done better on my weight loss than my whole life! Soo... I can't let the "mental stuff" get to me here... because everybody knows - when you quit believing in yourself is when everything goes to shit. (Right?)

I'm going to move more, eat less... eat better quality.... By the way, I still believe in myself and low-carb and I'm in it for the long haul!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Day 98

DAY 98 Low Carb

- Grilled pork steak with ketchup
- Peanut butter cheesecake
- 1.5 oz raw almonds/walnuts mixed
- Three cream cheese-stuffed jalapenos
- Broccoli-Cauliflower Gratin
- Double cheeseburger with hot pepper cheese, garden tomato, onions, mayo, mustard, ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Sugar Free Creamsicle (2 net carbs)

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Shirt Surprise

Okay... So I know I've lost over forty pounds so far... but I guess that I really didn't notice that it HAS had a huge effect on how I look... and what I fit into.

Before I started my journey, you may remember that I was quite upset because women's size 3x shirts were even very tight on me. I'm still wearing some of the 3x and 2x shirts... and I've noticed that they are getting a little roomier. This morning, I was going through a pile of donations that we are sending to Goodwill... and I came across a shirt that my mom is donating with the tags still on it. It is size 16/18 (XL). I wondered if I should dare try it on. I don't even remember ever wearing this size... I took a deep breath and tried it on. IT FIT!! I thought, no freaking way! I checked the size again and sure enough... it was from the regular section of the store! Not the "Plus" size! I can't believe how monumental this feels for me. I fit into a shirt from the regular women's department! I have never even thought about shopping in a regular section in a store. This is HUGE!

Guess I'll keep on keeping on because I have a long way to go... but I'm getting there!

Day 97 Low Carb Food Log

DAY 97

- "The 2x2x2" Two low-carb pancakes with sugar free syrup, two cheesy scrambled eggs and two sausage patties
- Turkey and swiss with tomato and mayo on an oopsie roll
- No bake peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream
- A slice of pizza on cauliflower pizza crust* with Hunt's sugar free sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, ham and mushrooms
- Two coconut-crusted chicken breast tenders

Exercise:
34 mins on Recumbent Bike

*This pizza crust freezes very nicely.

"The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. No apologies or excuses. No one to lean on, rely on, or blame. The gift is yours - it is an amazing journey - and you alone are responsible for the quality of it. This is the day your life really begins." ~Bob Moawad

Friday, September 4, 2009

Day 96 Low Carb Daily

DAY 96 Low Carb Menu

- "The 2 x 2" (two pancakes with LC pancake syrup and two sausage patties... with a little more syrup)
- A piece of no bake peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream
- Parmesan cheese crusted baked chicken breast
- Broccoli mushroom casserole
- Grilled burger with swiss cheese, garden tomatoes, lettuce, onions, mustard, mayo and reduced sugar ketchup on an oopsie roll
- Two slices deluxe American cheese

Exercise:
32 minutes on recumbent bike - I'm rewatching all of the episodes of Sex and the City while I do my bike... and I'm loving it!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Day 95: Alive, Alive!

Day 95 Low Carb Foods

- Grilled hamburger with colby jack cheese, romaine lettuce, tomato, onions, mayo, mustard and reduced sugar ketchup - on an oopsie roll
- Broccoli mushroom casserole
- 3 low carb pancakes with Walden's sugar free pancake syrup and a sausage patty
- Grilled hamburger with swiss with lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, mayo, ketchup on an oopsie

Exercise:
1 mile brisk walk

I went to the park with my 4 year old niece and her baby brother. She is like, 4 going on 20 with her vocabulary. She has recently been quoted as saying, "There are lots of fun activities in pre-kindergarten." My niece is so cute. You would think she would call me "Aunt Angela..." but she prefers to shorten it to simply "Aunt." She learned several months ago that I just love it when she calls me "her silly little aunt." What I really love is her calling me little!! Nobody has called me that! We had a lot of fun at the park. My nephew could not stop grinning when I was swinging him in the park's baby swing. The whole point of this journey is being able to live more. The "baby" is almost not even a baby anymore... How time flies when you are having fun!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

When there is no finish line

I've been exercising daily.... and it feels incredible. Like I have control over my body... It sounds bizarre, but before I started this program, it was like I had no control over my eating habits. I would literally "find" myself driving to McDonald's with huge orders, acting like the food was not all for me. This would always leave me feeling sick and tired... yet the addiction was so strong... it didn't matter. I was so unhappy with my body that I could not even look in the mirror. Nobody should have to live like that. Yet, I would turn around and cope more with food... creating a very vicious cycle. Food addiction is real.

Each night, walking to the bathroom, I would wonder why I ate so much that day. It was like I just knew I was going to mess up. I never really held myself to any kind of standard with sticking to a plan, so I just gave up trying.

I still think about food a lot, but at least it's to the degree that I can control my eating. I was actually considering weight loss surgery (and had the BMI to do so). I'm extremely happy that I did not make this decision... but really, I considered it and thought it was the only way "out" of my morbidly obese body.

My brother, who is an RN, really did not think that surgery was a good option for me, as he has personally seen the struggles one goes through with an option like this. This is not about weight loss surgery... I actually commend and admire those courageous enough to take this desperate step to regain their health. For many, it IS necessary. My ex boyfriend at the time was also against it. He performs sleep studies and said that I was "not big enough" for surgery... as he gives sleep studies to people before they have it. He also told me something that I still hold with me to this day.

"Angela, I won't love you any more if you have this surgery," is what he said. I didn't realize until he said this that maybe that was what I was after... anyway. Thankfully, I lost my dad's incredible health insurance when I got my Bachelor's degree, so no surgery for me.

I've been "big" since as long as I can remember. From my school pictures, first grade seems to be the year that I really started to balloon. I must mention, in kindergarten, my dad would pick me up from school and we would (always) stop and get a Happy Meal. He never would get anything... he would just come back home and sleep while I munched my meal down. See, he worked third shift at the prison and so he slept during the day while my three older brothers were at school and my mom was at work. Sometimes, after my "happy" meal... I would find myself "hungry" (read: craving carbs), so I would snack on plain white Wonder bread. That year started my carbohydrate addiction. My parents soon divorced, and I turned to food for comfort.

I tried low-fat (unsuccessfully) several times in high school, consuming white bread with jelly for breakfast and whole bowls of minute rice with fat-free butter, thinking I was doing "good." I liked the idea of low-fat because I was never much of a meat eater anyway... and bread was my FAVORITE. I was entirely convinced that low-fat was the way to go... but I knew that for some reason, I could not stick to it. Now, I understand that my body was not getting the nutrition it needed, which left me constantly hungry for real food.

I just want you to know, my food addiction was serious. My legs could literally not support my growing, large body. In sixth grade, I had such severe knock-knees that they required surgery. Experimental surgery, we later found out. I had both knees operated on over the next year... My doctor performed my left knee surgery too early, resulting in an over-correction my leg. It swung too far the other way. Luckily, he operated on my right knee just at the right time (miraculously). See, my surgeon (and I'm using that term loosely) did not have any clue I would grow to be 5'10,'' so he did my left knee surgery too early.

After this orthopaedic pediatric surgeon was done, I was left with an arthritic, degenerative knee and a one-inch leg length discrepancy, which has caused major issues with my back and will surely cause hip issues. Thankfully, I have an amazing chiropractor who beats me up when I need it. I have issues with this orthopaedic pediatric surgeon (again, using this term very loosely), clearly, but it was really a surgery I needed. I just wish he would have done the proper wrist x-ray to see how long my growth portion was. It's a simple chart. Of course, most people don't grow so tall, but my whole family is tall!

The reason for my surgery was knock-knees... but really, the reason was obesity. What caused my obesity was my large consumption of carbohydrates. I'm just saying, this disease/ailment/whatever you want to call it... obesity... has taken enough of my health and beaten up my body enough. I will not be a victim of it anymore. Being a victim may be fun at time time, but it gives you no power and ultimately... screws you over.

I've already had a botched surgery (weight-related)... so I'm not really the type to think of surgery as a way to fix anything. I know it does work, and I know I need a lot more... but it really just freaks me out. During my second surgery, I actually woke up on the operating table... I do not have any memory of this, but the anesthesiologist had all kinds of questions for me when I woke up, like do I sleepwalk. Why, yes, I do... He said that my body does not go into paralysis when it should. They told me I ripped my IV's out and was kicking and screaming... I do NOT remember this, but I'm sure it was horrific. I woke up with my IV in a different place, and I asked about it.

Anyway, I can't look back. I do not feel sorry for myself. In fact, I feel such little knee pain now. I went to a surgeon when I was 21, six years ago, and I was shocked at the x-rays. The doctor who screwed up my left knee in the first place did not even tell me that when he went to take out my staples in my knee, he did not even get them out. Might have been nice to mention that. Imagine my surprise when I saw my x-rays with all the staples! I'm sure he charged the insurance company properly to remove them... Can you tell I'm bitter?

To get on with it, the second surgeon had no idea about what to do... he was talking about taking out wedge of a bone here and there to make my legs the same length. I told him that I was not as worried about the length of my legs (as I have a one inch lift on my shoe anyway), but I was more worried about the functionality of my knee. He even told me he was clueless and wanted to consult a friend of his... I actually appreciated that.

"What if I don't get surgery at all?" I asked.

"Well, then you won't have a knee at all," he chuckled. Now, I'm just as sarcastic as the next person, but this guy's sense of humor left a lot to be desired.

He told me that I would be looking at a knee replacement when I turn 40, so I asked him, why not replace it now? He told me that my knee was too deformed for a knee replacement and I would need several surgeries just to prepare for that. I ran out of that office and haven't looked back. I was not even in (any) pain six years ago... so why was he wanting to cut me up? Oh yeah... you only go to a surgeon for surgery.... just like you go to the barber shop for a haircut!

Since my mother is an amputee, I see first-hand that our limbs are not immortal. Anyway, I did take one piece of his advice seriously.

"If you really want to help yourself, lose weight," he said bluntly and disappeared.

By then I knew I was a carbohydrate addict, and I went on a plan called the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, where I lost 65 lbs in 8 months. However, I basically just binged every night and it was not healthy for me. I really wasn't following it properly because I never ate salad with dinner like they recommend. Needless to say, since it was not a lifestyle change, I just eventually gained (nearly) every pound back.

This is why I no longer even really care how long it takes me to lose my weight. I mean, there is to end to low-carb for me. When people ask me how long it will take them to lose x amount of pounds doing Atkins, I just have to laugh... because if you want to maintain any kind of weight loss... then there is no finish line.

In the past six years, I've restarted Atkins, sometimes several times per week. I think of all those false attempts as learning experiences where I learned great recipes, great tips, etc. I just wasn't ready yet. Oh, and it's all psychological for me, despite me going on and on about my physical symptoms of obesity. I just want you to know that no matter how desperate of a situation you are in... it can be turned around. I'm 19.4 lbs away from my lowest adult weight and I can't wait!

It totally breaks my heart to see youngsters with knock knees like I had. I saw this Tyra show where this one 13 year old girl reminded me of myself... with her knock-knees... and it was very upsetting. Parents need to get real and quit abusing their children with food, acting like they are "treating" them to something. To quote Jackie Guerra, "[The parents] are sentencing their children to a lifetime in fat prison for a crime they didn't commit. "

Do I personally blame my parents? Goodness, no. My mom fed us grilled food every night... She just didn't realize how horrible the Rice a Roni and bread was for us... and I always ate seconds if not thirds of these options. In fact, many nights, I would skip the meat altogether.

So, if you wonder why I'm so serious about this... I have a lot at stake. The good news is, I'm turning it all around. I would say, see you at the finish line... but we all know there is none. So, let's enjoy this marathon together!

Day 94

Day 94 Low Carbohydrate Food Log

- Three low carb pancakes* with Walden's zero carb pancake syrup and two sausage patties
- Cheesy tuna casserole
- Swiss cheeseburger off the grill with romaine lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup, mustard and mayo on an oopsie roll
- Broccoli mushroom casserole

Exercise:
1 mile brisk walk

*This is the first time I've made these pancakes. WOW, they sure are rich! They have the actual texture of real pancakes. These are absolutely incredible. I used vanilla whey protein powder in place of the soy plain protein powder, so maybe that is part of the reason mine taste so "rich." If you are a pancake eater, you are sure to love these.... and they will keep you full for a long time because they are loaded with protein. Maybe next time, I will just make half the batch... because now I have lots of leftovers. Pancakes, anyone?

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Day 93 Every day, I feel more FREE!

DAY 93 Low Carb Food Log

- Cheesy tuna casserole
- Swiss cheeseburger with onion, lettuce, mustard mayo and ketchup on an oopsie
- Half a piece of peanut butter cheesecake with whipped cream
- Tostada on a cauliflower taco shell with taco meat, lettuce, salsa, cheddar cheese and sour cream

Exercise:
48 minutes on the recumbent bike